I don’t think what Mark Cuban said was meant as an insult to Kobe Bryant. But Kobe uses everything for fuel — the security guard doesn’t wave to him on his way into the arena and he gets pissed and drops 40 — so you kind of knew what was coming if you were Dallas. Just be glad it wasn’t 62 points in three quarters.

Good teams win ugly and that’s what the Warriors did Sunday. But they wouldn’t have had a chance without another big game from Jack — this is three straight 20 -point games for him. He had 11 points in the first quarter kept the Warriors within reach and in the fourth quarter had five points and 4 dimes. Jack needs to be in the sixth man of the year conversation.

Early in the season everyone said he had lost a step. But veteran players get smart about when they can and should turn it on over the course of the long season. And with the Heat behind in the fourth quarter Sunday Wade turned it on — 15 points in the fourth quarter. Miami has 11 wins in a row and that streak is alive because Wade hasn’t lost much if anything.

First Star: Kobe Bryant(38 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists)

Don’t make Kobe angry, you wouldn’t like him when he’s angry. This was a vintage Kobe performance where some of the shots were ones that make coaches everywhere cringe — and he knocks them down. The Lakers are playing much better lately but this is why you want to have a Kobe on your team — there are nights you need a guy to put you over the top. That’s what Kobe did. Amnesty That.

Jarret Jack has been absolutely dominant this season, backing up a top 10 point guard in Stephen Curry. He and Carl Landry should without a doubt be in consideration for 6th man of the year just from the Warriors

1. I wouldn’t have guessed it pre-season, but Jarrett Jack appeals to be more important to Golden State’s success than Andrew Bogut, at least so far. Definitely deserves 6th man consideration.

2. Wade said before the season that he wouldn’t be fully recovered until around the All-Star break from his offseason knee surgery. Everybody forgot he said that for some reason, and now people are surprised his production has gone up right around the All-Star break. Short attention spans I guess.

3. Kobe was great in the 4th quarter. Lakers seem to have found a style that works for them – Kobe and Nash sharing ball-handling responsibilities – and with more passing on offense has come better and more engaged effort on defense. We’ll see if the can keep it up with 6 out of their next 10 games being against playoff teams.

Wade has clearly lost some explosiveness. Watch any Dwyane Wade game before the big 3 and you’ll see rim rocking dunks and blocked shots on centers. Wade had a great 4th quarter tonight but there were moments where old Wade throws it down but new Wade hung in the air and hit a bank shot instead. He’s still good but he has changed.